Transport

Air

Trang's Airport is located seven kilometres south of town and serviced by a handful of daily flights to/from Bangkok with Nok Air and Air Asia. Minibuses shuttle travellers to the centre of town for 90 baht per person, and private taxis can also be arranged. To reach the airport from Trang town, ask your hotel to call the minibus or take a tuk tuk for 150 baht.

Train

The train station is located at the western end of Rama VI Road in the heart of town. Two trains depart for Bangkok's Hualamphong daily at 13:30 and 17:25 and take around 15 hours, making stops at Surat Thani, Chumphon and Hua Hin. Regular sleepers cost 780 baht and several other types of seats are available. From Bangkok, Trang-bound trains depart at 17:05 and 18:30.

Bus

Trang's main bus terminal (Bor Kor Sor Mai) is located five kilometres east of the train station off Phattalung Road (Route 4), across from Rua Rasada Hotel. Blue city buses and blue-and-white songthaews run between here and the train station for 12 baht. A tuk tuk will cost around 100 baht. Fares include:

Bangkok: First-class buses depart at 08:30 and 09:30 and then seven times from 16:30 to 18:00 for 500 to 600 baht. VIP buses depart at 17:00 for 907 baht. The trip takes 14 hours and most buses stop at both Sai Tai Mai (Southern) and Morchit (Northern) terminals in Bangkok. Hat Yai: Minibuses depart hourly from 05:00 to 18:00 for 100 baht and take three hours. Some regular buses from Phuket also pick up in Trang on the way to Hat Yai.Haad Yao and Kuan Thung Khu (Piers for Ko Libong, Ko Muk and Ko Kradan): Minibuses depart when full from 07:00 to 16:00 for 60 baht to Kuan Thung Khu and 80 baht to Haad Yao. Most travellers arrange this as part of an all-in minibus and ferry transfer from downtown Trang. Ko Lanta: Minibuses depart at 09:30, 10:50, 12:20, 13:45, 15:10 and 16:30 for 250 baht and take two to three hours, including the car ferry. Nakhon Si Thammarat: Minibuses depart hourly from 07:00 to 17:00 for 130 baht and take two to three hours. Pakmeng (Pier for Ko Ngai): Minibuses depart every half-hour from 07:00 to 17:00 for 50 baht and take an hour. Many travellers arrange this ride as part of an all-in transfer to Ko Ngai from downtown travel agents. Phattalung: Minibuses depart hourly from 05:00 to 18:00 for 60 baht and take an hour. Phuket: Regular buses depart hourly from 05:00 to 18:00 for 230 baht and take four hours, making stops in Krabi and Phang Nga. Satun: Minibuses depart hourly from 06:00 to 18:00 for 120 baht and take three hours. A few regular buses also run to Satun. Songkhla: Minibuses depart hourly from 05:00 to 17:00 for 150 baht and take three hours. Sungai Kolok (Malaysia border): Regular buses depart at 11:30, 13:30 and 24:00 for 310 baht and take seven hours. Head to Hat Yai and make a transfer to enter Malaysia at other crossings. Surat Thani: Minibuses depart hourly from 07:00 to 17:00 for 160 baht and take three hours.

In addition, Trang’s old bus station (Bor Kor Sor Gao) off Huai Yot Road to the north of town services songthaews and shared taxis to provincial towns, including Kantang and Yan Ta Khao. They generally depart when full from early morning to late afternoon.

Apart from private transfers that are charged by the group, all prices listed below are charged per person. Time estimates include the minibus and boat rides and pick-up times are from downtown Trang.

Ko Kradan: In high season, minibuses followed by longtail boats via Khuan Thung Khu Pier depart at 11:00 and 16:00 for 450 baht and take three hours. A private transfer will cost around 2,000 baht. Ko Lanta: You can catch a public minibus from the bus station (see above) or pay a travel agent an extra 100 baht for a pick up downtown. Ko Lao Liang: No public boats are available so you’ll have to arrange a pick-up through Lao Liang Island Resort (T: 092 563 3239 ; https://www.facebook.com/LaoLiangResort/) or pay considerably more for a private longtail boat via Tasae Pier. Lao Liang closes in low season. Ko Libong: Local ferries run from Haad Yao Pier to Libong throughout the day so you could catch a public minibus from the bus station (see above) and pay 100 baht for the boat upon arrival. Travel agents charge extra to call the minibus for a downtown pick-up. Ko Lipe: All year-round, a minibus followed by a speedboat via Pakbara Pier departs at 09:00 for 750 baht and takes more than three hours. In high season only, a minibus followed by a transfer to a Tigerline ferry via Haad Yao Pier departs at 11:00 for 850 baht and takes considerably longer.
In high season only, the same 09:00 minibus that runs to Lipe also services Ko Bulon Lae for 650 baht and Ko Tarutao for 750 baht. Ko Muk: All year round, a minibus followed by a local ferry via Khuan Thung Khu Pier departs at 11:30 for 250 baht and takes two hours. In high season, there are additional departures at 11:00 and 16:00 for 350 baht. A private transfer will cost around 1,500 baht. Ko Ngai: In high season, a minibus followed by a slow boat via Pakmeng Pier departs at 10:00 for 500 baht and takes a few hours. You could also take a public minibus from the bus station to Pakmeng and buy your ferry ticket upon arrival. A private longtail boat from Pakmeng to Ko Ngai costs 1,500 baht. Ko Phi Phi: In high season, minibuses followed by speedboats via Krabi depart hourly from 07:00 to 12:00 for 600 baht. Ko Rok: Take a public minibus to Pakmeng and book a slow boat tour departing at 09:00 for around 2,000 baht, arranging for the same tour company to pick you up at a later date. One option near the pier is Jaravee Tour (T: 075 274 046 ; 081 719 6926; jaraveetour_2009@hotmail.com). Ko Sukorn: A public songthaew followed by a local ferry via Tasae Pier departs at 11:00 and costs 150 baht. The songthaew parks near the fresh market in Trang but it’s not easy to locate; best to ask a travel agent to call for a pick up. A private taxi to Tasae will run 1,000 baht plus 50 baht for the boat.

Note that once you’re in the islands, public high-season speedboats connect all of the above islands directly, except for Libong, Lao Liang, Rok and Sukorn. You can also use private longtail boats for island hopping.

Getting around

Trang is a pleasant town to stroll around, with both the day and night markets reachable by an easy walk from the train station. There are also blue city buses and white-and-blue songthaews that pick up at the train station and run in loops around town, stopping at both the old and new bus stations.

Motorbike taxis hang out near the train station and charge 20 to 40 baht for short trips, while Trang's signature frog-style tuk tuks are available all over town.

If you want your own wheels, Mitree House rents out mountain bikes for 150 baht per day, while motorbikes can be rented for around 200 baht per day at PJ Guesthouse, Yamawa Guesthouse and a couple of the travel offices near the train station. Several car rental agencies have booths at the airport.